Collecting Rainwater

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

09 Sep 2008 10:16 AM

Did you know that the average American uses 101 gallons of water a day for their home and yard? As climate changes bring about increased drought, this number will become even more shocking than it already is.

Some homeowners are choosing the green option of collecting rainwater. Rainwater can reduce the reliance on city water and save resources, especially as water ordinances and restrictions are becoming tighter and water more scarce.

While non-purified rainwater should not be used for drinking, there are so many other uses for it. Rainwater can be used to water lawns and gardens, do laundry, fill decorative ponds and family pools, water plants, flush toilets and more.

The easiest way to collect rainwater is by using a standard 55-gallon barrel that is filled from rainwater that comes off of the roof through a gutter and spout. Just place the barrel under the spout. You may have to use a hacksaw to cut the spout if it is too long. You can even make this more decorative, by fashioning a rain chain, or you can hide it all away under a porch or at the back or side of a house. Once you get a taste for collecting rainwater, you can add additional barrels and daisy chain them all together. It is amazing how much water can be collected from one good rain.

It doesn't have to cost much to get started in collecting rain water. You can purchase 55-gallon containers made specifically for holding water, or you can reuse a discarded container. Just make sure that the container never contained any toxic waste. A container that carried a food items, such as vegetable oil or maraschino cherries would be idea to use.

A cover is important to have for your container. Purchased water containers usually have a small hole for the spout with the rest of the top surfaced covered. If you are using an open container, fashion a cover for it and keep it covered when you are not collecting rain. You don't want the rainwater to become a breeding ground for mosquitos.

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, creating a home in the Home Blog and caring for little ones in the Baby Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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Samual (11722) 09 Sep 2008 03:07 PM

A lot of people use water buts, it has been common for a very long time, I have no idea what a gallon is, so I don't know how much that is really.

deedee1231 (4030) 09 Sep 2008 08:36 PM

Well there are about 3 and 3 quarters liters in a gallon, I think the precise conversion is 3.78 liters = 1 gallon. Here, we purchase things like milk and gasoline by the gallon. I think in U.K. gasoline is purchased by the liter, if I am remembering correctly?

Are you familiar with quart measurements? Another good conversion is that there are 4 quarts in a gallon, if that helps at all.

What exactly is a water but?

Mary Ann Romans (26876) 10 Sep 2008 03:36 AM

Thanks for the conversions deedee!

Samual (11722) 10 Sep 2008 11:55 AM

I have never heard of a quart we are a metric country, which means yes we buy our petrol in litres.

A water but is a large plastic container that collects water, you can connect it to your guttering or leave the lid off.